Captivating Concepts
The CBC looks for a theme to spotlight in each month’s Hot Off the Press list so that we can alert parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and all children’s book enthusiasts to important new offerings from our member publishers.
Books are often the building blocks to understanding the world around us. Basic concepts like colors, numbers, letters, and opposites are fundamental in the learning process, but they don’t have to be boring! These new titles from our September Hot Off the Press list engage young (and young-at-heart) readers with funny tales filled with animal opposites, silly stories about letters and numbers, and brilliant adventures with colors and seasons. This collection goes to show that foundational learning can be a fun romp through both fact and fiction!
100 First Words for Little Bookworms, by Stephanie Campisi; illustrated by Kyle Kershner (Familius) — Concepts, Series, Facts / Trivia, Humor, ages 0-3.
A tongue-in-cheek board book with characters and terms that every bibliophile wants to teach to the next generation, with colorful illustrations by Kyle Kershner
You have a stack of unread books, but you still keep buying new ones. Your ideal evening would be spent reading on a cozy chair. And you know the book is ALWAYS better than the movie. Congratulations—you’re a bookworm, and it’s your job to ensure the little ones you care about grow up to love books just as much as you do. Curated by bookworm Stephanie Campisi, author of Quacks Like a Duck, this collection of bookish words is the perfect addition to any home library. With references to classic and contemporary literature, adult and children’s books, 100 First Words for Little Bookworms is the ultimate collection of words every book lover should know from a young age.
Counting Winter, by Nancy White Carlstrom; illustrated by Claudia McGehee (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing / Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) — Concepts, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Animals, ages 4-6.
An atmospheric tribute to the beauty of winter and its creatures.
One red fox walks across the white snow—quietly stalking winter. Two ravens croak and gurgle—raucously talking winter. Three snowshoe hares hop on big paws—silently tracking winter. Four red squirrels feast at their midden full of cones—hungrily cracking winter. Wherever you look, another creature is making its mark on the snow-covered season.
Inspired by the author’s years in Alaska, this lyrical book celebrates the rhythms of the tundra and its inhabitants. Poetic lines and stunning scratchboard art create the perfect read for chilly days—whether winter is just beginning or just starting to melt into spring.
Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites, by Bette Westera; illustrated by Mies van Hout; translated by David Colmer (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing / Eerdmans Books for Young Readers) — Concepts, Humor, Animals, ages 4-6.
A whimsical portrait of animals—and antonyms—in action.
How do you contrast creatures as different as cheetahs and tortoises, or as similar as butterflies and moths? In this lively book of poetry, antonym pairs introduce thirty-two members of the animal kingdom. Each spread presents the voices of two unique creatures: are you more like an obedient sheep or a rebellious goat? What about a tidy pig or a messy warthog? A bossy gorilla or a meek monkey?
With bold, vibrant art and amusing free verse, this collection is a memorable way to explore vocabulary, opposites, and animal traits with young readers. Every flip of the page brings a new set of faces—and another chance to laugh.
Flora and Friends Colors, written & illustrated by Molly Idle (Chronicle Books) — Concepts, Animals, Imagination / Play, ages 0-3.
Brighten your day with the help of Flora and her rainbow of feathered friends, inspired by the Caldecott Honor–winning children’s book Flora and the Flamingo.
Birds of a feather learn colors together! An instant hit upon its release, Flora and the Flamingo now celebrates over ten years in print. In this vibrant new board book, Flora takes toddlers on a twirl through all the colors of the rainbow. Featuring big flaps to play with, this interactive board book will delight young children as they learn simple concepts in the charming company of Flora and her friends.
Good Night, Belly Button, written & illustrated by Lucie Brunellière (Gecko Press) — Sleep / Dreams / Bedtime, Mental / Physical Health, Concepts, ages 0-3.
Baby is ready to sleep, so it’s time to say good night—all the way from toes to nose!
With each new blanket-page longer than the previous one, the cozy check blanket gradually tucks the baby in. One by one, baby and parents together say good night to little feet, little knees, little legs . . . . And what about you, little eyes—are you ready to close?
Then the light clicks off, and everyone’s fast asleep. Good night, baby! Good Night, Belly Button is an affectionate and original bedtime ritual to lull any baby to sleep.
The Gray City, written & illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann; translated by David Henry Wilson (NorthSouth Books) — Science / Nature, Mystery / Thriller, Imagination / Play, Concepts, ages 7-12.
Let there be color! From the creator of the Mouse Adventures comes an epic, illustrated story about a girl who sets out to bring color back to a city where everything is gray.
There is something off about Robin’s new city. Everything there is gray—house facades, people, even flowers. Where are all the colors? Robin sets out in search of color and uncovers a plot: behind all the gray is the faceless Gray Works company. Thanks to her powers of deduction and a few allies, Robin gets into the company’s control center and sets all the controls to colorful. In the end, only her cat is left gray.
Kuhlmann uses his love of science and his mastery of illustration to introduce color theory to young readers through his striking visuals and contemporary narrative.
How Do You Spend?: A Moneybunny Book, written & illustrated by Cinders McLeod (Penguin Random House / Nancy Paulsen Books) — Math, Animals, Humor, Concepts, ages 4-6.
Celebrate the many different ways a little bunny can spend her savings, and learn about opposites too!
Bun has been saving her carrots, and now it’s time to spend some—but HOW will she spend them? Well, she could spend fast and buy a lot of things all at once, or she could take her time and spend slowly on something unique. She could buy something ordinary like a toothbrush, or something exciting like a mini sports car. Then there are things to buy for herself and things to buy for others, as well as things she needs and some that she wants. There are so many options, and little bunnies will have a ball considering them all!
On Powwow Day, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Charlesbridge) — Cultural Diversity, Concepts, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Contemporary, ages 0-3.
One car drives to the powwow.
It’s powwow day, and there’s so much to see and do! This adaptation of award-winning author and Cherokee citizen Traci Sorell’s uplifting picture book Powwow Day invites readers to count and find colors in Choctaw illustrator Madelyn Goodnight’s gorgeous art. From family drums to fancy shawls and moccasins to jingle cones, On Powwow Day celebrates the unique sights and warm family atmosphere of a powwow for the littlest readers.
Red Rover, Red Rover, Send a Vowel Over: A Picture Book About Vowel Sounds, by Kimberlee Gard; illustrated by Sandie Sonke (Familius) — Concepts, Imagination / Play, Kindness / Generosity, Social Emotional Learning, ages 4-6.
The newest addition to the Language is Fun series, this colorful picture book from award-winning author Kimberlee Gard and illustrator Sandie Sonke teaches children all about vowel soundsThe vowels, little a, e, i, o, and u, know they are different from the other letters, so they hesitate to join in the playground games, but when the consonants try to form words, they realize just how impossible that is without the vowels. With some encouragement from little y, a letter who belongs to both groups, the vowels join the fun and use their sounds to make words we all love. With anthropomorphized letters as the characters and fun visualizations of words with and without their vowels, Red Rover, Red Rover, Send a Vowel Over is the perfect gift for teachers or parents of new readers!
That’s Not My Christmas Tree…, by Fiona Watt; illustrated by Rachel Wells (Usborne Publishing) — Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations, Concepts, Imagination / Play, Series, ages 0-3.
Light up your Christmas with this super-special festive addition to the bestselling That’s not my… series.
With a bigger format, sparkly foiled cover and twinkly lights to discover on the final page, That’s not my… Christmas Tree is the perfect present for babies and toddlers. The best first Christmas gift!
Turn the pages to explore the bumpy trunk, prickly branches, sparkly decorations and shiny presents on the Christmas trees, all brought to life with the familiar little white mouse to spot on every page.
To the Other Side with Mommy, written & illustrated by Esther van den Berg (Clavis) — Family / Community, Animals, Kindness / Generosity, Concepts, ages 0-3.
A celebration of maternal love and the joy of exploration. For toddlers aged 12 months and up.
To The Other Side with Mommy is a heartwarming exploration of the special bond between mommy animals and their little ones. Created by Ester van den Berg, a starred reviewed author by School Library Journal, this charming book is perfect for toddlers aged 12 months and up, offering an engaging glimpse into the world surrounding them.
Join Mommy Kangaroo as she carries her little one in her pouch, Mommy Crocodile who takes her little one everywhere in her beak, and Mommy Chicken who walks through the meadow together with her little ones. Each page invites young readers to accompany these 8 loving mommies and their offspring on their adventures, encouraging them to take their own first steps and become independent while also getting to know different animals.
With its delightful storyline and adorable illustrations, To The Other Side with Mommy is a must-have for gifting young children and inspiring them to explore the world around them. Fans of Guido Van Genechten’s beloved titles such as Step by Step and I Will Always Hold Your Hand will find similar joy in this endearing book.Embark on a heartwarming journey with mommy animals and their little ones, and discover the beauty of love, companionship, and independence. To The Other Side with Mommy is not just a story—it’s a celebration of maternal love and the joy of exploration for toddlers everywhere.
Trunk Goes Thunk! A Woodland Tale of Opposites, by Heather C. Morris; illustrated by Chantelle & Burgen Thorne (Gnome Road Publishing) — Environment / Sustainability / Recycling, Animals, Concepts, Places / Travel, ages 4-6.
Whoosh! Crash! Thunk! Follow along as the LOUD sounds of a falling tree signal the transformation of a QUIET area of the forest into a flourishing center of activity.
This lyrical nonfiction story uses word opposites such as small and large, dark and light, high and low, and fast and slow to introduce young readers to the natural recycling of fallen timber into log bridges. From bears, porcupines and racoons to eagles, mice and deer, a host of forest animals repurpose a fallen tree, connecting two sides of a stream together throughout the seasons.
A carefully-chosen color palette of soothing natural colors and a charming collection of characters bring the playful prose to life in what is certain to become a storytime or bedtime favorite and a go-to book for early elementary science and language arts teachers.
For more great book suggestions, be sure to check out the full September Hot Off the Press list!
List compiled by CBC’s resident book connoisseur, Brooke Pisarsky. Check out other Hot Off the Press Spotlight book lists on our blog.
